2012gre词汇考试备考：新东方GRE阅读词汇笔记(4)

arbiter

person with power to decide a matter in dispute; judge who is in a position ot make influential judgments; Ex. supreme arbiter of fashion in beachware

arbitrary

unreasonable or capricious; random; tyrannical; Ex. arbitrary ruler

arbitrate

act as judge (at the request of both sides)

arboreal

of or living in trees

arboretum

place where different trees and shrubs are studied and exhibited

arcade

a covered passageway usually lined with shops

arcane

esoteric; secret; mysterious; known only to the initiated; Ex. arcane ritual; Ex. arcane process closed to the uninitiated listener

arch-

chief; first; Ex. archbishop

archaeology

study of artifacts and relics of early mankind

archaic

antiquated; no longer used; belonging to the past; N.

archetype

prototype; primitive pattern

archipelago

group of closely located islands

archives

public records; place where public records are kept

ardor

heat; passion; zeal; ADJ. ardent

arduous

hard; strenuous; Ex. arduous work

argot

slang; speech spoken by only a small group of people

aria

operatic solo; a song sung by one person in an opera or oratorio

arid

(of land) dry; barren; unproductive

aristocracy

hereditary nobility; privileged class; government by nobility; N. aristocrat

armada

fleet of warships

aromatic

fragrant; having a sweet smell; N. aroma: strong pleasant smell

arraign

charge in court; indict

array

marshal; draw up in order; arrange in order; clothe splendidly; adorn; N: fine clothes; ordered group; Ex. in battle array

arrears

being in debt; money that should have been paid; work that should have been done

arrhythmic

lacking rhythm or regularity; N. arrhythmia

arrogance

pride; haughtiness; ADJ. arrogant: unpleasantly self-important (with a strong confidence in one's own importance and a lack of respect for other people)

arroyo

gully; narrow channel formed by rainwater

arsenal

storage place for military equipment

artery

blood-vessel; CF. vein

artful

exhibiting art or skill; deceitful; cunning; CF. artifice

articulate

effective; distinct; expressing ideas clearly; having clear sounds; having joints; Ex. articulate speech; V: express thoughts and feeling clearly; pronounce clearly; unite by joints

artifacts

object made by human beings, either hand-made or mass-produced

artifice

deception; trickery

artisan

a manually skilled worker

artless

without guile; open and honest

ascendancy

controlling influence; position of controlling influence; CF. in the ascendant

ascertain

find out for certain; make certain

ascetic

practicing self-denial; avoiding physical pleasures and comforts; austere; Ex. ascetic life of Buddhist monks; N. asceticism

ascribe

refer; attribute; assign

aseptic

preventing infection; having a cleansing effect

ashen

ash-colored; deadly pale

asinine

stupid; Ex. asinine remarks

askance

with a sideways or indirect look (with disapproval or distruct); Ex. look askance at

askew

crookedly; slanted; at an angle

asperity

sharpness; roughness; severity (of temper or weather); Ex. asperities of a Russian winter

aspersion

slanderous remark; Ex. cast aspersions on

aspirant

seeker after position or status

aspire

seek to attain (position or status); long for; Ex. aspire to become president; Ex. aspire to/after the leadership

assail

assault

assay

analyze (to discover what materials are present); evaluate (soil or ore)

assent

agree; accept; N. assessment

assert

state strongly or positively; demand recognition of (rights, claims, etc.); make a claim to (by forceful action); Ex. assert one's independence

assiduous

diligent

assimilate

absorb; take (food) into the body and digest it; understand (knowledge) completely and be able to use properly; cause to become homogeneous (the people of a country or race in the wasy of behaving or thinking)

assuage

mak less severe; ease or lessen (pain); satisfy (hunger); soothe (anger)

assumption

something taken for granted; the taking over or taking possession of; Ex. her assumption of power; V. assume

assurance

firm statement that something is certainly true; promise or pledge; certainty; confidence in one's own ability; self-confidence; Ex. In spite of all his assurances, he did not come back; Ex. assurance of his loyalty; Ex. The teacher lacked assuranc

asteroid

small planet

astigmatism

eye defect which prevents proper focus; OP. stigmatism

astral

relating to the stars

astringent

binding; causing contraction (stopping bleeding); harsh or severe; stringent; Ex. astringent criticism

astronomical

enormously large or extensive

astute

wise; shrewd; keen; seeing quickly something that is to one's advantage

asunder

into parts; apart; V. sunder

asylum

place of refuge or shelter; protection (religious or political)

asymmetric

not identical on both sides of a dividing central line

atavism

resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents; reversion to an earlier type; throwback; ADJ. atavistic

atheistic

denying the existence of God; N. atheism

atone

make amends for; pay for; Ex. atone for

atrocity

brutal deed; ADJ. atrocious

atrophy

wasting away; V: weaken and lose flesh and muscle (through lack of blood or lack of use)

attentive

alert and watchful; listening carefully; paying attention; considerate; thoughtful; politely helpful; Ex. attentive audience; Ex. He was attentive to the old lady; N. attentions: act of courtesy and consideration

attenuate

make thin; weaken

attest

testify; bear witness

attire

clothe; N: clothing; array; apparel

attribute

essential quality; V: ascribe; explain

attrition

rubbing away by friction; gradual decrease in numbers or strength; reduction in the work force without firing employees; wearing away of opposition by means of harassment; Ex. a war of attrition

atypical

not normal; not typical

audacious

daring; bold; N. audacity

audit

examination of accounts of a business; official examination; V.

augment

increase; add to

augury

omen; prophecy; sign of coming events; V. augur: predict; foretell; be a sign of (something in future)

august

impressive; majestic

aureole

sun's corona; halo; bright circle of light

auroral

pertaining to the aurora borealis; CF. aurora australis

auspicious

favoring success; giving signs of future success; Cf. auspices

austere

forbiddingly stern; ascetic; without comfort or enjoyment; severely simple and unornamented; Ex. a monk's austere life; Ex. austere grandeur of the cathedral; N. austerity